Christie faces mounting suits over public records

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came into office declaring "a new era of accountability and transparency." Yet after winning a second term in 2013, and as he explores a run for president, a wide variety of people say his administration routinely stonewalls even the most basic requests for public records.

BY JILL COLVINThe Associated Press

Published: August 16, 2014

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came into office promising a new era of transparency.

That includes requests for the governor’s schedule, travel records and state contract details.

They say they’ve seen a spike in the number of lawsuits in the past six months following the George Washington Bridge scandal. They also complain about what they say are more arbitrary justifications for denials.

Christie insists his administration is as transparent as he said it would be. He says reporters want more information than they’re entitled to and he provides the records the law requires.

His office received more than twice as many requests for records in the first half of this year versus last.